Celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving with a diversity of Thanksgiving gift baskets

Thanksgiving is America’s traditional holiday to celebrate the survival of the Pilgrims through the kindness and knowledge of the Native American peoples. The Pilgrims were ill prepared to survive in the cold, snowy winters, with little knowledge of how to find and prepare edible foods. The Pilgrims were indeed people in need, who through the kindness and humanity of the native peoples, survived that first cold winter and went on to establish a community here in America.

The spirit of Thanksgiving has continued to this day, as the occasion when we all give thanks for what we have – in terms of family, friends and the many blessings we enjoy. We typically have a festive and sumptuous meal, symbolizing these many blessings. However, while some families have plentiful food, others are not so lucky; during these tough economic times, too many people are in dire need of so many of the everyday things some of us take for granted.

There’s a way each one of us can help less fortunate neighbors. A Thanksgiving gift basket drive is one excellent idea that can be organized at the grass roots level, right in your own community. One way to begin organizing is through your house of worship, or through community centers, such as Senior service organizations or philanthropic clubs.

Your Thanksgiving gift basket need not be confined to food, although donations to food banks are certainly welcome and needed. Currently, apparently due to the economy, many food banks report that donations are significantly down, some even struggling to stay open as their shelves run bare. Similarly, food donations to charitable organizations which serve full meals to the poor, are certainly needed.

Another variation on the Thanksgiving gift basket is to have a clothing drive – there are plenty of kids and adults who cannot afford warm winter clothing. Coats, jackets, sweaters and socks are good additions to a clothing gift basket.